“Stay true to yourself.
Let your voice ring out and don’t let anyone fiddle with it.
Never turn down a good idea, but never take a bad idea.
And meditate.”
~~ David Lynch (1946-2025)
Greetings to all my precious people!
We are on the precipice of so much change and I want to gently remind all of us that we were made for these times. On Wednesday, January 29, 2025 the Lunar New Year will begin as we celebrate the arrival of the Yin Wood Snake, which officially emerges on Monday, February 3rd. It is the beckoning call to release old patterns and evolve, and to step up in ways that utilize our unfolding awareness. The 2024 Year of the Dragon gave us plenty of opportunities to reexamine, reevaluate and reestablish our operating systems, both personally and communally. Now is the time to navigate our Path with strength, clarity and wisdom. Let us focus on strengthening and harmonizing our connections to the external environment as well as our internal healing systems. We can create a balanced, flowing approach to daily life that serves the body, mind and spirit of our own Self, as well as that of our community.
In Chinese astrology, the Snake represents the sixth earthly branch in which creativity abounds and our consciousness awakens. The Snake offers us opportunities to expand our intellect and ‘shed our skin” so that we can reclaim our authentic self. This year of 2025 is a good one to seek out what we truly want and work diligently to attain it. The tenacity of Snake energetics supports this achievement, though a well constructed strategy is recommended and will serve us well in our accomplishments.
The Snake possesses mystical qualities and wisdom that we can draw upon. This is an excellent year to deepen our intuitive skills since the Snake has excellent instincts, and this year is associated with relating to the Way of Heaven. The Heavenly Way is a Taoist concept based on the idea of acting in accordance with nature. It is considered the heart of the universe because it benefits all things without causing harm. The Way of Heaven, or The Heavenly Way, is believed to be an alignment with Nature to maintain harmony and equilibrium.
The element of Wood in this year of the Yin Snake reminds us that there is inherent strength and desire with which to follow through on all undertakings. While Wood generates fire, making 2025 a robust year for achieving creative projects, the fire element can be explosive, so be mindful of interactions with others. Wood is also associated with connecting to the heavenly energy, which is vital in 2025 for being fully conscious and spiritually awake.
Yin is associated with quiet, rest, contemplation, and reserve—which allows us to balance the forward momentum of the Snake. Utilize the year’s strength to build knowledge and harmonize with your internal and external cosmos. The first half of the year offers the opportunity to integrate the three burners of the body (the upper, middle, and lower aspects) and clear out blockages to allow free flow of Qi. From June 2025 to January 2026, it is recommended to focus on connecting with universal Qi by honoring how we nourish ourselves as well as how we support the natural surroundings. We must recognize our interconnectedness with the human family and approach others with warmth and openness. This will enable us to prosper and achieve our goals. Walking our path with the knowingness that we are guided divinely will have positive results when we harmonize with the Yin Wood Snake.
Remember: We often rupture at our well established fault lines. Perhaps they are unsupportive habits, or maybe unconscious thoughts and beliefs that are running our outdated software in the background. It is these spaces and cracks we are called upon to notice, tend to, and repair; and trust we will be stronger as a result. But it does take time and observation to recognize our new terrain as we come through the rubble. So in order to reclaim our authentic Self for the Year of the Yin Wood Snake, let us ask ourselves:
What in my life needs recalibrating—rebalancing—resettling?
Richard Rohr is a Franciscan priest who founded the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) in 1987 because he saw a deep need for the integration of both action and contemplation. Father Rohr believes they are inseparable and they are part of the natural progression of change which is order, disorder, and reorder. The author Ben Katt’s latest book The Way Home: Discovering the Hero’s Journey to Wholeness at Midlife describes the same natural progression of change a bit differently: Leaving the familiar (order), Falling into the unknown (disorder), and Rising to wholeness (reorder). Here’s how he articulates it in the book:
- Leaving the familiar: Leaving the familiarity of the false version of yourself that you’ve settled for, whether it be achiever, antagonist or escapist. This is your impostor identity and whatever form it has taken, it becomes apparent that it no longer fits. This first phase represents the initial interruption, unraveling, and separation from life as you’ve known it.
- Falling into the unknown: Unable to depend on the former version of yourself and the world you had constructed, you become vulnerable, confused and lost. This phase involves a series of confrontations as you must undergo the death of who you thought you were in the struggle to reclaim your heart.
- Rising to wholeness: You’ve recovered your heart, but now you must meet the challenges that come with reintegration into the world of everyday life, relationships, and work. You are reborn—and grateful for it—but need to figure out your new place in the world.
The way forward is within. So what do we need to do in order to reclaim our authentic Self?
The word “reclaim” has an interesting etymology. First recorded in 1250–1300; (verb) Middle English recla(i)men, from Old French reclamer (tonic stem reclaim-), from Latin reclāmāre “to cry out against.” For our purposes today, the meaning of “reclaim” has more to do with the definition offered by the Oxford Dictionary: retrieve or recover (something previously lost, given, or paid); obtain the return of.
By cultivating self-compassion, self-awareness, and self-acceptance, we can overcome self-doubt and rediscover our authentic Self. Healing the cracks and crevices created along our fault lines is a process, but a necessary undertaking to achieve wholeness. Seek support along the way. Encourage curious conversations. Allow the wisdom of the body messengers to point the way. Shed your limiting identities. Cross the threshold. Unlock your inner greatness.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine are some of the tools I use to support the health and wellness of my patients, but the healing that occurs is always prompted from the inside. The answers to health and wellness reside in your heart. Treatment in my healing sanctuary goes beyond the needles—they simply serve to prompt the body to do its own mysterious and miraculous work.
I help people learn how to listen to their body’s wisdom and reconnect the unconscious mind to nurture the mind-body connection. This work allows people to realize their full capacity and choose to live a life aligned with their values, nourished by their dreams and desires. Together, we co-create opportunities for healing as the process unfolds.
I offer compassionate, attentive care. I see you. I hear you. I celebrate your journey. As an experienced clinician, I support patients as they come home to themselves, reconnecting the mind, body and spirit. This is my greatest passion: to serve as a facilitator, navigator and coach as you transcend old patterns and come into alignment with your best self. Are you ready to choose your Self and celebrate your gifts? Are you ready to manifest your Authentic Self that is abundant with health and vitality? Commit to being present and living your life with intention. Schedule your consultation today!
“But that’s just the trouble with me.
I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it.”
~~ Alice in Wonderland
